Hi,

I'm Jay.


Welcome and thank you for joining me on my visual explorations. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, I've lived most of my life in the sprawling hills of the Ozarks and Southwest Missouri. For the past 15 years, I've had the great fortune of living in Chicago, Illinois where I began my journey into photography. It started with an attempt to document the sights and sounds of the immaculate city that intrigued me so much as I adjusted to a new life in the city; one that starkly contrasted the suburban life to which I was accustomed. The streets, the people, the architecture, the history, all of it fascinated me endlessly - some of it cold and unforgiving but most of it warm and friendly - but most of all a world famous city familiar to many far and wide, past and present.



From Midwest

beginnings.

I've had a love of photography for as long as I can remember. It wasn't until I purchased my first camera that I learned the extent to which I could engage my creative side through beautiful images. What goes better with photography than traveling and exploring the globe? Although I have had the opportunity to visit many foreign lands, I've only recently begun to document my global adventures through photography.


Commemorating

the moment.



Aside from travel photography, I've developed an intense love for capturing invaluable moments between friends, family and loved ones that reproduce beloved memories for years to come. As memories tend to fade in our minds over time, photographs bring those memories new life each time they are viewed. Grabbing those candid moments and crafting unexpected artistry from something as simple as a laugh, a smile or a wink is a skill best reserved for those who are passionate about it.


Each portrait I've taken of a subject carries a new acquaintance attached to it. I truly love meeting new people of all varieties and learning their distinct personalities as well as their individual journeys through life. I love hearing the stories, the regaling of moments past and finding a way to commemorate those connections through imagery.

The Process

01. Connect

Whether commemorating your scholastic achievements through Senior portraits, announcing your engagement, creating a remarkable professional headshot to launch your career or just a fun family shoot, let's make a connection!

Share your story

02. Conceptualize

We will discover ideas by talking about the things that mean the most to you and the best way to approach your session. We'll decide the best location to serve as a backdrop for your images how to stylize them to your particular tastes.

Develop Your Vision

03. Create

This is the fun part. Putting it all together and creating the moments you want to culminate and share. Based on your objectives, we'll spend an hour or two together crafting the perfect shots while listening to some great tunes and laughing a lot!

Bring it to life